Previously known as the Treaty Establishing the European Community, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) was signed on 13 December 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal, and entered into force on 1 December 2009. It is one of two primary treaties that form the constitutional basis of the European Union (EU), the other treaty being Treaty on European Union (TEU).
The TFEU sets out the main objectives and principles of the EU and defines its competences. It also provides the legal basis for EU policies in areas such as the internal market, competition, agriculture, transport, energy, the environment, consumer protection, and social policy.
One of the key features of the TFEU is its emphasis on ensuring the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people within the EU's internal market. The TFEU also includes provisions on EU competition law, state aid, and the harmonisation of national laws and regulations to support the functioning of the internal market.
In addition, the TFEU establishes the EU's institutions, including the European Parliament, the European Council, the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, and the European Central Bank. It also sets out the decision-making procedures of the EU, including the ordinary legislative procedure, the special legislative procedures, and the consultation procedure.
The TFEU plays a crucial role in shaping the EU's policies and institutions and in promoting greater economic, social, and political integration among its member states.
You can learn more about this topic and relevant case law with our EU Law notes.
